Many women spend years building successful careers, raising families, checking every box, and creating lives they can be proud of—only to realize something important is missing: community. Somewhere along the way, connection becomes something to get to later, replaced by busyness, productivity, and the belief that meaningful relationships will somehow happen on their own. In this episode of This Is Woman's Work, Nicole Kalil sits down with journalist, podcast creator, and author Katherine Goldstein to explore why friendship isn't enough, why community requires intention, and how small acts of neighboring can create the kind of meaningful support so many women are longing for. Together, they challenge the idea that connection is reserved for extroverts or people with unlimited free time, offering practical ways to build deeper relationships through everyday interactions. In This Episode, Nicole and Katherine Discuss: The difference between friendship and community—and why both matter. Why so many women are missing the "middle ring" of meaningful relationships. How modern life has made building community more difficult. Why community often becomes most important during times of crisis. How to shift from waiting to "find your people" to intentionally building connection. Why no community will ever meet 100% of your needs—and why that's okay. Katherine's definition of "neighboring" and why small actions matter. The concept of "deep casual" gatherings and how low-pressure hosting creates stronger relationships. Why lowering the bar for entertaining actually leads to deeper connection. The importance of protecting community from logistical burnout. The surprising types of groups Katherine recommends not relying on to build lasting community. Why investing in nearby relationships can create the support systems we all need. Together, these insights offer a practical and refreshing roadmap for building the kind of community that sustains us in everyday life.  Thank you to our sponsors! To see what Scribe could look like for your team, head to https://scribe.how/TIWW  and mention TIWW for your first month of Scribe Capture free on select plans Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/work or use code WORK and get 70% off your first year Connect with Katherine: Substack: https://thedoubleshift.substack.com/  Website: katherinegoldstein.com   Pre-order the Book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/796461/neighboring-by-katherine-goldstein/  Related Podcast Episodes: The Connection Cure: Social Prescribing, Loneliness, and Why Belonging Is Medicine with Julia Hotz | 373 The Power of Conscious Connection with Talia Fox | 263 Creating A Connected Community to Grow Your Business with Kami Guildner | 221 Share the Love: If you found this episode insightful, please share it with a friend, tag us on social media, and leave a review on your favorite podcast platform! 🔗 Subscribe & Review:Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices